There are exceptions of course, but most women (and some men, too) are not comfortable making decisions on their own when it comes to keeping their automobiles healthy and reliable. Most of us rely on either our fathers, our husbands, or some other male we trust in our lives for help with our cars. And most of us honestly prefer to not take responsibility for that big hunk of complicated metal we drive, beyond maybe keeping it clean and fed!
It all comes down to what we know and what we don’t know. If you want to feel more confident and in control concerning the care and maintenance of your car, (short of taking courses to become an auto tech!), you simply need to choose an auto repair/service shop that will be the right fit for you and your vehicle.
The following checklist is a way to determine whether a shop is indeed a quality shop that will provide you with a stress-free, trustworthy, and pleasant experience. Remember, never be afraid to ask a shop these questions:
1. Are your technicians ASE-certified, and are their certificates current?
2. Is there an ongoing training program in place for all your technicians and service advisors?
3. Do you have experienced diagnosticians using the latest diagnostic equipment?
4. Do you provide at least a 12,000 mile/12 month warranty on parts and labor?
5. Are you properly insured to cover possible vehicle damage that may occur while in the shop?
6. Are you certified/approved by AAA and is that status current? (Note: if so, the shop will have answered Yes to the previous 5 questions, plus you will know that they have a satisfied customer base – all prerequisites for being AAA approved.)
7. Do you offer secure “early drop-off” or “late pick-up” for your customer vehicles?
8. Do you provide free shuttle service within a reasonable distance from your shop?
9. Do you provide assistance with rental car service if needed?
10. Do you keep your customers informed regarding future vehicle maintenance needs?
Either before or after asking the above questions, you will want to visit the shop and note if they have a clean garage and a clean, comfortable waiting area. A good shop will encourage you to visit and get to know them before making your first appointment. Most important, how are you treated by the service advisor? Is he or she friendly, helpful, and thankful for your business? Are all your questions welcomed and answered? Are all the services being recommended for your car explained to you fully and using language you can understand?
By making the effort to qualify who works on your car, you will enjoy peace of mind, improve the relationship between you and your vehicle, and save money in the long term by avoiding unexpected, sometimes catastrophic, and always expensive, repairs.
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Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
2037 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
650-961-0302
www.deansautomotive.com
Tags: quality service
Donna, very sound advice.
While I am a guy and a guy that has the knowledge and skill to work on my own car I just HATE working on cars. I hate getting under the hood, I hate crawling under the car trying to get to the oil drain plug. Hate it, hate it, oh and did I mention I hate working on cars!
I have been a long time fan and customer of Dean’s Automotive. You guys treat me and my car very well. Fast, friendly, and reasonably priced. And best of all I do not have to work on my car myself.
To you and all the guys and Dean’s thank you for being there when I need you.
-Ron-
Hi Ron,
What a fun surprise! Thank you so much for the kind words; I am really happy to know that your experiences with us have been good and that we could help you with tasks that you don’t like to do! In your travels, if you have any car problems, please don’t hesitate to give us a call…we may be able to guide you to a shop nearby that is trustworthy. Warren has access to information about shops all throughout the U.S. I am looking forward to following you on your journey!
good post, Donna. Wish I was still in the bay area—would come to your shop! I depend on friends & family for recommendations…
Donna,
Thanks for the excellent advice. I’m usually a great problem solver when it comes to life’s challenges but when my car brakes down I turn into a helpless wimp? Your advice is going to help me a lot.
Hi Donna, if knowledge is power then knowing enough about an auto shop to which we entrust our car is definitely helpful. I myself am “vehicle repair challenged” so I’m glad to pick a shop that will help guide me to understanding how my car should be properly cared for, both at the shop and out of shop. Thanks for the good info!
Lee
Hi Donna,
great information, am thinking that I need to check out your shop- since moving here I have not found a shop that I feel really comfortable with. I am assuming I do not even have to ask these questions about your shop. All good questions I would never have even considered. Am due for a service very soon. I will look you up!
Cheryl
Thank you, Cheryl! Just stop by any time to meet us! We are always happy to have another good customer!
LOVE the check list Donna. I have a tendency to take my Prius back to the dealer just to be sure that I get someone who supposedly knows what they are doing. Now, with the help of your check list, perhaps I can find someone local and a bit less expensive. Good to have at least a basic knowledge of a machine that I spend so much time in!
Thank you, Irene! I am happy this was useful information for you. Sometimes dealers are not as interested in what is best for the customer concerning vehicle maintenance. They are really most interested in selling new cars!
Great list. I have a shop that I love but only after trying several different ones. I think this list would have helped me find one quicker. I think asking for references may also could be added to the list.
Essential to have a mechanic you can trust, speaking as a women, who knows nothing about cars, I really appreciate your list of what to look for. We rely so much on our metal horses. Great info, thanks Donna.
Thanks for a great checklist Donna! My care needs some attention and I shall use this to check a few places out. We drove through Mountain View the other day as my hubby has applied for a job there and Ron is there too! Why is everything about the Bay area right now – am I getting messages from the Universe? Would mean moving my business also but that’s possible….